Breakup Songs: The Perfect Playlist to Get You By

Breakup songs can be therapeutic. You just need to find the right ones.

Did you just go through a tough breakup? Are you experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions?

If you don’t know what to do after a breakup, we’ve got you covered! There are a multitude of ways to cope with heartbreak, but one of the most common, yet often underappreciated method of healing is listening to music—specifically breakup songs.

There’s something so raw and emotional about listening to these kinds of songs. Nothing wrings the hearts of many than an artist’s heartbreaking lyrics. Everybody loves a good tearjerker here and there from time to time.

But even if you’ve never personally experienced a heartbreak, you get the gist of how painful it is just by listening. It could be how the producer mixed and mastered the sounds, the singer’s vocals and painful emotions, or the composer’s lyrics that sting people’s hearts.

It’s 2025 and many artists have shot to stardom with their melancholic heartbreak songs. So we came up with a curated playlist to help you feel better.

We understand the overwhelming mundaneness of finding the right song to play while moving on from an ex—so we saved you the hassle by presenting you with some of our personal favorites.

Songs for Your Break Up Mood

It’s no secret that everyone loves listening to songs about breaking up or moving on from a relationship. These kinds of songs help a person’s mood by making them feel like they have someone to share the same pain with.

Whether you’re in pain, feeling victorious, vicious, or bitter, here’s a playlist of some of the best breakup songs for your listening pleasure.

Melancholic and Dark R&B

When you’re hurt, you may feel like you want to brood, capturing every single moment of pain and sadness. You want to feel comfort in expressing your sorrows to the void. What better way than to listen to some amazing melancholic vibes from some of modern day R&B’s greatest!

For example, ABEL, formerly known as The Weeknd, was known for his honest, melancholic, dark, and sad songs that shook the R&B genre like a cultural force of nature. His old songs may come off as unpleasant to some, but you can’t deny the raw emotions he puts out. Or what about the guttural vocals of Bryson Tiller and the many R&B singers? Here’s what we suggest.

Guitar Strings and Bitter Feelings

The guitar is one of the most famous instruments in the world. We’ve seen great singers and songwriters blasting out songs by strumming their strings and singing out their bitter hearts to the world.

Many of the world’s best, even dating back to the 40s, were humble guitar players playing the blues, singing out their sorrows. Hence, we had country blues. But time has passed, and a new wave of singers holding onto their guitars and feelings are here to make one of the best breakup songs you’ll ever hear.

Taylor Swift is one of the many iconic hitmakers that incorporate the guitar with her songs. She’s known to make some of the best breakup songs through her experiences with her exes. And what about the new girl on the block, Olivia Rodrigo? The way her songs feel is like her album “SOUR,” and it hurts so good. Here are some songs we think you’d love to sing along with your guitar.

Finding the perfect breakup songs for your moving on stage helps you heal faster.

The Millennial Heartbreak

The mid-2000s were a special time for a music fan. With the dawn of the internet, artists have found new ways to share their music with the world. And the music they put out for heartbroken people was so iconic.

How could we forget the queens, Mariah Carey and Beyonce, at their primes, singing hit after hit, with songs that make you wish you had a man who could treat you right? Or what about the mid-2000s R&B scene where Usher, Boyz II Men, and Ne-Yo have been the kings of heartbreak music videos where singing and dancing in the rain is equivalent to being emotional? We got a lovely list for you to check out.

The Good Old Days

There’s nothing better than the 70s and 80s, back when walkmans, cassette tapes, and vinyl records were the rage. People constantly tuned in to their favorite radio stations that played soulful music to appease their broken hearts.

Back in the haydays of the 70s and 80s, we had Bobby Caldwell’s lovely soulful voice–paving the way for melancholic and soulful R&B. What about Steve Perry and Journey? Such a beautiful band that tugs at your heart strings.

And how can we forget about Peabo Bryson and his famous “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again”? Here are some throwback songs that will surely make you reminisce life in the yesteryears.

Try It Out Yourself

You won’t be alone in learning how to deal with a breakup; we’ve got your back. Hopefully, this specially curated playlist will help ease your broken heart and make you feel less alone.

Cry your heart out and sing at the top of your lungs. We won’t judge you. It’s better to let it all out than to keep your pain inside. Time heals all wounds, but music makes time fly by fast. Give these breakup songs a listen.